[azrael492]

As I have said in other posts, I am a casual nascar fan, but am trying to watch it more. Could somebody explain how a team works. I know it is the same owner with the cars hiring the drivers, but is there a courtesy that is to be given to drivers in the lead. If Stewart is in 1st the last 10 laps and Busch is in 3rd, is he going to try and help Stewart win by running interference, or will he go all out and try to win himself.

I guess I took the long way of asking if there is a pecking order that the owner want to win, and do they mandate it?

[jks812]

Originally Posted by azrael492

As I have said in other posts, I am a casual nascar fan, but am trying to watch it more. Could somebody explain how a team works. I know it is the same owner with the cars hiring the drivers, but is there a courtesy that is to be given to drivers in the lead. If Stewart is in 1st the last 10 laps and Busch is in 3rd, is he going to try and help Stewart win by running interference, or will he go all out and try to win himself.

I guess I took the long way of asking if there is a pecking order that the owner want to win, and do they mandate it?

I don't know about a pecking order. About the only thing I've heard them play a radio communication of a owner saying is, don't wreck each other. Other than that I guess it depends on the driver. You got Montoya that wrecked a team mate for a win. Gordon won't pass Johnson for a win. As far as running interference, in the truck races Spraque was complaining one race because he felt his team mate should have protected his(Spraques) position but he passed him instead.
Personally I think they should race their team mates just like they do everybody else. And some of them do and some don't.

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by jks812

Gordon won't pass Johnson for a win.

Gordon is not going to sit back without trying to win if Johnson is leading. Remember last season when they were banging doors as Jeff tried to pass Jimmy for the win?

[LSC9901]

Most drivers will not sit back unless they know they do not have the car to get by. Generally team mates will race one another but not necessarily with the same intensity that they'd use against a non team mate driver.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by jks812

Gordon won't pass Johnson for a win.

I think it's more like Gordon couldn't pass Johnson. He would have if he could. I think this year you will see a far less kinder and gentler Gordon. As to the question asked, I would think that if there was the possiblility of a win by racing your team mate for all it's worth, then that's what most of these guys will do. I also think a driver who doesn't feel he has the car to win will help out a teammate who does have the car to win. I would hope, anyway.

[Racer Duck]

one of the things we've seen in the restrictor plate races is some cars can lead and some can't, while others are good "pushers".

most of the time the drivers get so hyper at the end of the race, they forget about teams and it's everyone for themselves. kinds sad, 'cause every year there's at least one story where so-and-so cost his teammate a win because he went for the win even though the teammate's car was better that day. at least they don't wreck each other as much as in the past.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by tbalt

Gordon is not going to sit back without trying to win if Johnson is leading. Remember last season when they were banging doors as Jeff tried to pass Jimmy for the win?

Oops....I meant to say Gordon won't wreck Johnson for a win. Sorry.
As for the race you're talking about, that's a good example. Gordon did try to pass Johnson and couldn't, and if it'd been anybody else he would have wrecked them to get by. Again sorry, I put the wrong word in there.